I don't know how I didn't notice this CAL before?!?! Well, I may just have to start on one of these tonight. If I can find a composition notebook that I can glue and such in. I have kind of been in an art journaling rut lately so I can't wait to get started It will probably take a back seat to my christmas swap crafting, but I will totally work on one while I am on vacation next month

I love this and I might just need to join. I have a couple extra composition books and some "junk" I just can't throw away. I won't start yet as my Sketchbook is looking at me reproachfully as I write this because none of the pages are done yet but I am so in for this.

I found that working on this book helped relax my apprehension about starting a blank sketchbook--not enough to get me to join the Sketchbook Project, but enough to start working on a personal one, at least! Working in such a cheap little book, adding any random crap and deliberately destroying some pages got me out of the mindset of "everything has to look perfect", which certainly holds me back at times.I picked up another composition book, so I can transfer some of the pages I pulled out of my first book and maybe make a gift out of it. Which sounds kinda absurd--"Here, have this book of junk."--but if it has a theme that the person likes and room for them to add their own junque (assuming they have some), it might work. Some folks on ATCsForAll.com have embraced junque journals and the pictures they've posted are helpful in seeing various ways of approaching this. Many make it look like a regular scrapbook, with stickers, nice papers, etc, but generally no photos or important things since it is, after all, just a composition book at its core. A couple people are making holiday-themed books, to hold all their random inspirations, greeting cards, recipes etc....I think I need more glue!

calluna you rock! That is so funny the way you think and I love it! I want to think more that way. This is a good place for me to get through that initial phase of this needs to be perfect (that I am still stuck in). Maybe I should just get to it... but glue would help. Any advice on types of glue for this?

cheap! LOL. Honestly I'm happiest with rubber cement (which isn't the cheapest thing) in this book. I had to put a layer on both surfaces because the ceiling fans dried the stuff out before I could adhere them, but a layer of dried rubber cement adheres well to another surface of dried rubber cement. Glue sticks weren't cutting it for me, though I like them for other projects. The all-important ceiling fans (yay summer) kept them from being sticky at all. What I like most about rubber cement in this project is it keeps anything from being permanently affixed in the book. If I find a use for something in the junque journal, it's easy to just peel the item off the base page, rub off the dried adhesive from the back (or leave it), and use the paper for something else without damaging it.

Another craftsterer made me aware of a handbound variety of the junque journal today, and we spent much of this afternoon going back and forth via PM figuring out how to recreate it! I can't show any pictures though because it's going to be a surprise gift for someone. After the holidays I'll explain it and post the link.